APPENDIX. 317 



The bittern, ardea flellaris, is fometimes met with in 

 the marmes on the fea-coaft. Ouzels of different fpe- 

 cies (merula\ are feen on the mountains of Mourne ; 

 eagles alfo are frequent there. The crofs-bill (loxia) 

 has often been obferved at Waring's-town, where otoe 

 of thefe birds was fhot a few winters ago. The birds 

 of pafTage, which make their appearance in fpring, are 

 the fwallow, the cuckoo, the rail or corncrake, the 

 quail, befides fome others not fo generally noticed. 

 Thofe, which appear at the commencement of winter, 

 are the woodcock, the fieldfare, barnacles, and wid- 

 geon ; thefe two come in aftonifhing numbers, and take 

 up their winter abode in the lough of Strangford, and 

 in Carrickfergus bay, where they ftay until they are 

 invited by the change of feafon to return to the northern 

 climes, from whence they came ; thefe birds are much 

 more regular in their time of coming than in their 

 leaving this country, feldom being later in coming than 

 the latter end of Auguft, but often remaining until 

 May, though -they fometimes depart fo early as 

 April. 



Of quadrupeds the only one, I have feen deferving 

 to be mentioned for its rarity, was the marten, of the 

 weafel kind, as high as a fox, but much longer ; it was 

 killed feveral years ago at Moira ; the fkin was fluffed, 

 and kept a confiderable time at Montalto ; it was of a 

 brownifti colour, with the under part of its neck and 



belly 



